Employment: Coronavirus

(asked on 27th January 2021) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will ensure that people who are unable to participate in work as a result of (a) home schooling and (b) other Government covid-19 guidance have equitable access to financial support schemes.


Answered by
Kemi Badenoch Portrait
Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
This question was answered on 1st February 2021

Since their introduction, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme have been available to those unable to go to work because of caring responsibilities arising from COVID-19, such as caring for a home-schooling child, or caring for a vulnerable individual.

People who are unable to work from home and have been told to shield have also been eligible for these support schemes, as well as Statutory Sick Pay and Employment Support Allowance. In addition to this, the government has increased the generosity of the welfare system by £7.4 billion in 2020-21, including a temporary £20 uplift to the Universal Credit standard allowance and Working Tax Credit element, an increase in Local Housing Allowance rates and relaxation of the UC minimum income floor for self-employed claimants.

Local authorities have also received additional funding to provide support to people who have been advised to shield.

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